How To: Internal Drive to Single USB-C

[PoliteWatcher]

Hello,

I need help finding these items:

1) As small as possible internal UHD drive

2) the necessary adapters to have power and data go through one USB C cable to the computer



The reason for the specifics is because I am putting a Mac mini inside a vintage G4 iMac. The UHD drive must have a motorized tray so it will open the DVD cover on the iMac and close it when I put the disk in, and as far as I can tell, only internal UHD drives have the motorized trays. So, this internal drive needs to be converted into an external drive so that the Mac mini can connect to it since it only has USB C ports.


I need specific links, if possible, please. I don't even know what ports go on the back of an internal drive, I've always used external slimline drives. Someone on another forum helped me some, but I realized that what I was asking for at the time wasn't what I needed.

Is this dream of a perfect vintage machine even possible? I hope so, but I need your help.

Thank you and God bless.

[MartyMcNuts]

Hello,

I need help finding these items:

1) As small as possible internal UHD drive

2) the necessary adapters to have power and data go through one USB C cable to the computer



The reason for the specifics is because I am putting a Mac mini inside a vintage G4 iMac. The UHD drive must have a motorized tray so it will open the DVD cover on the iMac and close it when I put the disk in, and as far as I can tell, only internal UHD drives have the motorized trays. So, this internal drive needs to be converted into an external drive so that the Mac mini can connect to it since it only has USB C ports.


I need specific links, if possible, please. I don't even know what ports go on the back of an internal drive, I've always used external slimline drives. Someone on another forum helped me some, but I realized that what I was asking for at the time wasn't what I needed.

Is this dream of a perfect vintage machine even possible? I hope so, but I need your help.

Thank you and God bless.

Doubt you will have much luck with that!!!

[PoliteWatcher]

Hello,

I need help finding these items:

1) As small as possible internal UHD drive

2) the necessary adapters to have power and data go through one USB C cable to the computer



The reason for the specifics is because I am putting a Mac mini inside a vintage G4 iMac. The UHD drive must have a motorized tray so it will open the DVD cover on the iMac and close it when I put the disk in, and as far as I can tell, only internal UHD drives have the motorized trays. So, this internal drive needs to be converted into an external drive so that the Mac mini can connect to it since it only has USB C ports.


I need specific links, if possible, please. I don't even know what ports go on the back of an internal drive, I've always used external slimline drives. Someone on another forum helped me some, but I realized that what I was asking for at the time wasn't what I needed.

Is this dream of a perfect vintage machine even possible? I hope so, but I need your help.

Thank you and God bless.

Doubt you will have much luck with that!!!

What makes you say that? It seems that Powered SATA to USB adapters are common. Just need to get a USB C to DC barrel plug for the power and it should be good.

Why don't you think that would work? Any constructive pointers would be helpful for this build.

God bless.

[MartyMcNuts]

Hello,

I need help finding these items:

1) As small as possible internal UHD drive

2) the necessary adapters to have power and data go through one USB C cable to the computer



The reason for the specifics is because I am putting a Mac mini inside a vintage G4 iMac. The UHD drive must have a motorized tray so it will open the DVD cover on the iMac and close it when I put the disk in, and as far as I can tell, only internal UHD drives have the motorized trays. So, this internal drive needs to be converted into an external drive so that the Mac mini can connect to it since it only has USB C ports.


I need specific links, if possible, please. I don't even know what ports go on the back of an internal drive, I've always used external slimline drives. Someone on another forum helped me some, but I realized that what I was asking for at the time wasn't what I needed.

Is this dream of a perfect vintage machine even possible? I hope so, but I need your help.

Thank you and God bless.

Doubt you will have much luck with that!!!

What makes you say that? It seems that Powered SATA to USB adapters are common. Just need to get a USB C to DC barrel plug for the power and it should be good.

Why don't you think that would work? Any constructive pointers would be helpful for this build.

God bless.

Why would an internal drive have a DC barrel??? You really need to think this through and/or be more thorough/precise with what you are asking.

[Yethidran]

all i can suggest is that you have to do your own homework with searching google and deciding on what drives (model's) are suitable for your diy make of the mac. once you have chosen the drive, then come and ask for help because its pretty difficult for anyone to "Guess for you what drive you want and need to be fitted in your mac diy"
once you have chosen the drive model, do post it here so that members can chip in to help you out.

[PoliteWatcher]

That surprises me that asking what adapter to turn an internal HDD into an external HDD is difficult to answer.

I got the "Pre Flashed Pioneer BDR-213/2213 SATA 5.25 SATA with BDR-S13UBK Firmware" from Billy.

So, don't worry about the space and the fitting inside with he Mac mini details. All I need to know is what adapter would work best to run the drive off of the Mac mini's USB-C ports.


And if you guys don't know, that's okay. I've been on the forums for hours and no one seems able to give me an answer. I may just buy an adapter and try it with my other drive and see, I just thought the forums would save me time.

Thank you.

[PoliteWatcher]

Doubt you will have much luck with that!!!

What makes you say that? It seems that Powered SATA to USB adapters are common. Just need to get a USB C to DC barrel plug for the power and it should be good.

Why don't you think that would work? Any constructive pointers would be helpful for this build.

God bless.

Why would an internal drive have a DC barrel??? You really need to think this through and/or be more thorough/precise with what you are asking.

Mate, the adapter has the barrel plug. lol.

[Yethidran]

ok i guess you are talking about the "Barrel" meaning this type..

https://shopee.sg/BENOSEM-USB-SATA-Cabl ... 49adc205e7

then yes, get a simple usb-a to usb-c plug converter. do a google search for it.

[Yethidran]

there is lots of info in the www... you just gotta spend time patiently to find what you need precisely.

[Yethidran]

lo and behold, the link attached below is the google search results for this simple adapter.

https://www.google.com/search?q=usb-a+t ... e&ie=UTF-8

[Yethidran]

yup, i did the homework for you.
Cheers and always remember "Google is your Best Friend"

[PoliteWatcher]

I did google... I found the group of people to ask what the answer was.

This is my last entry on this forum.

Thanks!

[PoliteWatcher]

I did google... I found the group of people to ask what the answer was.

This is my last entry on this forum.

Thanks!

Cam back to correct my comment with the update that I mean that to sound funny.

I do appreciate the help!

Thanks everyone!

[Coopervid]

I did google... I found the group of people to ask what the answer was.

This is my last entry on this forum.

Thanks!

Cam back to correct my comment with the update that I mean that to sound funny.

I do appreciate the help!

Thanks everyone!

After reading through all this I still don't understand what you want to achieve. And that seems to be the core of the problem. You should have made a better explanation in more detail what you want to achieve.

[jjmkv]

Looks to me that a G4 imac just uses a regular optical drive with the faceplate taken off... nothing special... flash an LG, take off the faceplate.

then, just use a "USB C to SATA Adapter" to go from the mac mini to the uhd drive.

Nothing complicated.